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Home My WebLink About10929 City Clerk's Office Item # R2 Background Paper for Proposed Ordinance COUNCIL MEETING DATE: April 28, 2025 TO: President Mark Aliff and Members of City Council CC: Mayor Heather Graham VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk FROM: Chris Noeller, Chief of Police SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT AWARD AND APPLICABLE CONDITIONS PERTAINING THERETO WITH THE STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS (DOLA) PEACE OFFICERS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000, ESTABLISHING PROJECT NUMBER PS2501, AND BUDGETING AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS INTO PROJECT PS2501 SUMMARY: This Ordinance approves a grant award from the Department of Local Affairs and approves and accepts an initial grant award of $100,000.00 into Project PS2501. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: City Council approved Resolution No. 10439, which authorized staff to submit an application requesting an award of this grant annually since 2020. BACKGROUND: The Peace Officers Mental Health Support grant program within the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is available for local law enforcement agencies to engage mental health professionals who can provide on- handling of persons with mental health disorders and counseling services for peace officers. This grant will improve the mental health of officers of the Pueblo Police Department by offering professional counseling for officers involved in shooting, fatal use of force, and other critical incidents. Contracted services from a qualified, competent mental health provider will be provided, in person or remotely, to peace officers involved in job-related traumatic situations. Services may include trauma therapy and treatment. Peace officers may choose to use a different counselor and may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses. Following trauma exposure, an individual experiences one or more aspects of physical and psychological symptoms that can affect their mental health. According to the American Journal of Managed Care, critical incident stress debriefing is a practice that allows officers to both process and reflect on the traumatic events they've experienced and gain personal control around the incident. Training and resources through this grant will be used exclusively for the sworn law enforcement members of the Pueblo Police Department. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: This grant is 100% funded by DOLA, with no matching funds. This grant requires monitoring, auditing, and submission of financial documents which will impact the city with staffing costs. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: The Pueblo Police Department supports the award and appropriation of the funds to establish additional mental health support for its officers. ALTERNATIVES: Decline this grant offer from the Department of Local Affairs Peace Officers Mental Health Support. RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Ordinance. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Terms and Conditions ORDINANCE NO. 10929 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT AWARD AND APPLICABLE CONDITIONS PERTAINING THERETO WITH THE STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS (DOLA) PEACE OFFICERS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000, ESTABLISHING PROJECT NUMBER PS2501, AND BUDGETING AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS INTO PROJECT PS2501 WHEREAS, the City Council of Pueblo has the authority on behalf of the City of Pueblo, including its Police Department, to accept grants from the state government for public and municipal purposes and to enter into agreements relating thereto; and WHEREAS, the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs has tendered a Grant law enforcement training purposes for the Peace Officers Mental Health Support upon conditions recited therein or incorporated therein by reference; and WHEREAS, acceptance of the Award for the purposes for which it has been made is in the best interest of the City of Pueblo and will benefit the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of the City; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. The Award of the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs Peace Officer Mental Health Support grant funding in the amount of $100,000.00 is hereby approved and accepted in accordance with its terms and conditions. SECTION 2. The Pueblo Police Department is empowered to apply for and accept additional grant awards pursuant to the Grant Agreement as those funds are made available by the State of Colorado. SECTION 3. Project number PS2501 is hereby established in the Public Safety Grants Fund. All current and future funds accepted under this Ordinance shall be budgeted and appropriated into project number PS2501 by the Finance Department. SECTION 4. The officers and staff of the City of Pueblo are authorized to perform any and all acts consistent with this Ordinance and to implement the policies and procedures described therein. SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall become effective upon final action by the Mayor and City Council. Action by City Council: Introduced and initial adoption of Ordinance by City Council on April 14, 2025. Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on April 28, 2025. ____________________________ President of City Council Action by the Mayor: Approved on _______________. Disapproved on ______________ based on the following objections: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________ Mayor Action by City Council After Disapproval by the Mayor: Council did not act to override the Mayor's veto. Ordinance re-adopted on a vote of ____________, on _____________ ____________________________ President of City Council ATTEST ________________________________ City Clerk